Protocol for a feasibility study of a self-help cognitive behavioural therapy resource for the reduction of dental anxiety in young people

摘要

Background: Childhood dental anxiety is very common, with 10–20 % of children and young people reportingudhigh levels of dental anxiety. It is distressing and has a negative impact on the quality of life of young people andudtheir parents as well as being associated with poor oral health. Affected individuals may develop a lifelong relianceudon general anaesthetic or sedation for necessary dental treatment thus requiring the support of specialist dentaludservices. Children and young people with dental anxiety therefore require additional clinical time and can be costlyudto treat in the long term. The reduction of dental anxiety through the use of effective psychological techniques is,udtherefore, of high importance. However, there is a lack of high-quality research investigating the impact of cognitiveudbehavioural therapy (CBT) approaches when applied to young people’s dental anxiety.udMethods/design: The first part of the study will develop a profile of dentally anxious young people using a prospectiveudquestionnaire sent to a consecutive sample of 100 young people referred to the Paediatric Dentistry Department,udCharles Clifford Dental Hospital, in Sheffield. The second part will involve interviewing a purposive sample of 15–20 dentaludteam members on their perceptions of a CBT self-help resource for dental anxiety, their opinions on whether they mightuduse such a resource with patients, and their willingness to recruit participants to a future randomised controlled trial (RCT)udto evaluate the resource. The third part of the study will investigate the most appropriate outcome measures to includeudin a trial, the acceptability of the resource, and retention and completion rates of treatment with a sample of 60 dentallyudanxious young people using the CBT resource.udDiscussion: This study will provide information on the profile of dentally anxious young people who could potentially beudhelped by a guided self-help CBT resource. It will gain the perceptions of dental care team members of guided self-helpudCBT for dental anxiety in young people and their willingness to recruit participants to a trial. Acceptability of the resourceudto participants and retention and completion rates will also be investigated to inform a future RCT